John frederick bechmann



JOHNFREDERICK BECHMANN, OF ABBOTS CORNERS, NEW YORK. Letters Patent No.87,325, dated Ma/rch 2, 1869.

IMPRQ'V'ED PROCESS DP TANNING.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN Fnnnnmcx BEOHMANN, of Ahhots Corners, in thecounty of Erie, and State oi New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in the Process of Tanning; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full and exact description thereof.

, My invention is for the purpose of shortening the time of tanning, andto keep the hides soft during the process; and consists in the peculiaruse o the va 'io 5 ingredients hereinafter mentioned, more especial! y,however, in the use of oil of vitriol, for the purpose here inafterfully set forth.

My process is as follows:

The green salted hides are soaked and fleshed in the ordinary manner.

For sweating or unhairing, which is one of the important features in mytanning-process, I take the skins, after they have been limed in theusual manner, (about twenty-four hours in strong lime,) and put in warmwater, with oil of vitriol and red arsenic.

For example, for'one hundred skins I use six pounds oil of vitriol andone pound of red arsenic, with a sufficient quantity of warm water Bythus sweating or liming, by my method, I gain greatly in time, for oneadvantage.

The old or ordinary process is to let them (the skins) lie in alime-bathahout fourteen (14) days, which is a detriment to the skins, asthe lime is apt to eat up the strength of the leather.

I leave the skins in my bath for only twenty-four hours;

The hot water, oil of vitriol, and red arsenic, open the pores of theskins, without ultimate hurt to the leather, and this is done moreeffectncll and w th great saving of time.

Ail-er the hides are taken out of my bath, the hair is removed in theusual way, and they are then put into .cold water and left about a day.

From there they are again put into warm water, and the lime worked outin the usual manner.

They are then put into tannin g-liquor for three (3) days, and receivethe usual handling.

My process new again comes into play.

I take the skins, after the last-described operation, and put them intocold water, with oil of vitriol.

As an example, for one hundred skins I use from six to eight pounds ofthe oil of vitriol.

This is doneto change the color and soften the skins.

After they have lain about four (4) or five (5) hours they are takenout, and then put into strong tanningliquor and tanned out.

It takes, by this process, but fifteen days to tan a skin thoroughly,while by the usual processes in vogue it occupies not less than twomonths. Thus a great and important saving of time is secured, which israther to the advantage than the detriment'of the skin.

My process also possesses the important advantages of producing atougher and stronger leather, and at least one-quarter (3;) more weightis gained.

1 know that oil of vitriol or sulphuric acid has been used for what iscalled plumping hides, and also for liming, but this is not my useinlthe slightest degree, and I consider that it burns-them and destroysthe leather.

The object'whioh I fully accomplish is to soften the skins, and therebyaid and shorten the process oitanning, as before fully explained.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to'sccure by Letters Patent,is-- Sweating and tanning leather by the process herein described, viz,first, using oil of vitriol, incombination with red arsenic and warmwater, for sweating, and subsequently using oil of vitriol, combinedwith water, for tanning, herein specified.

I witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JOH1\ FR. BEOHMANN.

Witnesses:

J. R. DRAKE, ALBERT lzliircrncr.v

